Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, achieved a record 890,346 metric tonnes of copper production in 2025. As global demand for copper continues to surge — driven by the green energy transition — Zambia is targeting over 1 million tonnes annually by 2026, with an ambitious goal of reaching 3 million tonnes per year by 2031.
To meet this target, multiple large copper mines across Zambia's Copperbelt Province and North-Western Province are undergoing expansion and new construction. From Kitwe, Mufulira to Solwezi, existing worker accommodation facilities are severely inadequate. Mine expansions require more workers, yet these mining towns are located in remote areas — the nearest towns are 20 to 50 kilometers away, making daily commuting impractical.
A major mining company operating in Zambia's Copperbelt region contacted 9States to deliver a standardized 500-bed worker camp for its expanding copper mining project.
| Camp Capacity | 500 persons (expandable to 650) |
| Total Area | Approximately 6,500 m² |
| Construction Timeline | 4.5 months |
| Climate Conditions | Subtropical highland — average 20°C, summer max 34°C, annual rainfall ~1,300 mm, elevation ~1,300 m |
| Facilities Required | Dormitories (4-person with private bathroom), mess hall (150 seats), medical clinic, offices, laundry, recreation room |
| Logistics | ~2,000 km road transport from Dar es Salaam port (Tanzania) |
Using traditional brick-and-mortar construction presented several serious obstacles:
9States delivered a 500-bed flat-pack modular camp solution, specifically customized for Zambia's subtropical highland climate and supply chain constraints.
The camp is divided into three functional zones: Accommodation Zone — 150 modular dormitories (4 persons each) with private bathrooms and air conditioning; Public Services Zone — 200-seat mess hall, medical clinic, laundry, and recreation room; Administration Zone — 12 offices and 2 meeting rooms. All buildings are connected by covered walkways for convenient movement during the rainy season.
Each module is factory-produced in 9States' Shanghai plant in flat-pack form, folding to approximately 30 cm thick panels that fit into standard 40-foot shipping containers. The journey: Shanghai port → Malacca Strait → Indian Ocean → Dar es Salaam port (Tanzania) — approximately 10,500 km, transit time about 22 days.
From Dar es Salaam, containers travel ~2,000 km via the Tanzania-Zambia Highway (Tanzam Highway) to the Copperbelt mine site. Cargo is dispatched in batches of 8-10 containers per week, synchronized with on-site foundation work. On arrival, a 4-person team can assemble each flat-pack module in approximately 30 minutes using only hand tools — no welding or heavy lifting equipment required.
| Total Beds | 500 (expandable to 650) |
| Dormitory Units | 150 (4-person with private bathroom and AC) |
| Mess Hall | 200 seats with dedicated kitchen |
| Medical Clinic | 1 (with isolation room) |
| Office Modules | 12 offices + 2 meeting rooms |
| Recreation | TV room, table tennis, outdoor basketball court |
| Total Area | ~6,500 m² |
| Total Modules | 200 (flat-pack type) |
| Design Life | 15 years (subtropical highland environment) |
| On-site Installation | ~6 weeks (15 workers + 2 supervisors) |
For more information about mining camp solutions in Africa, visit 9States at 9prefabhouse.com.
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